Flash light



March 19, 1935. G H BARBER HA 1,995,141

FLASH LIGHT Filed Aug. 29, 1930 mum A IN VENTO RS GOODR/CH B. PRATT la w m BY ATTORNEYS I GEORGE H. BARBER Patented Mar. 19, 1935 I UNITED STATE Artur FFICE FLASH LIGHT George H. Barber, New Rochelle, N. Y., and Goodrich B. Pratt, Grantwood, N. J., assignors to Bond Electric Corporation, Jersey City, N. J

" a corporation of Delaware Application August 29, 1930, Serial No. 478,608 1 ,Qlaims. (01. 240-1055 This invention relatesbroadly to electric flashably securing the closure to the flashlight casing. lights, handlanterns and the like and more par-- Figure 5 is "a fragmentary vertical sectional ticularly to the so-called vest pocket type of flash- View taken on the line 55 of Figure 1, looking light of small dimensions adapted to .be carried in the direction of the arrows, and showing details in'a pocket of-the clothing and utilizing,- as a of the circuit closing devices and the top cap or 5 general rule, a dry battery of approximately three closure securing means. volts. i I i The flashlight casing 101s of substantiallytubm One object ofthe invention is the provision of lar shape, preferably oval in cross-section, as

a flashlight in which the lamp is enclosed orcovshown in Figure 4,- to fit the users pocket al- ,I

cred when not in use and wherein movement of though, obviously, any cross-sectional shape is 10 the lampenclosure'to uncover the lamp serves equally applicable. The casing 10 has an inwardly to complete the circuit through ,the batteries turned flange '11 at its lower end to support the and illuminate the lamp. i bottom of the casing, which may be an oval-disc It is also an object of the invention to providea 12, preferably of non-metallic or insulatory mate I5 flashlight in which it is immaterial how the cells rial. Thebattery is disposed within the casing are insertedin the casingthat is, in whichrdirec and is shown as comprising two separate and tion the electric current flows mm the batteries relatively movable cells13 and 14 side by side, one through the lamp. inverted with respect to the'other, that is, one

'Another object of the invention is a flashlight cell 14 is placed in the casing 10 with its central of this character in which the lamp socket is imor positive terminal 15 uppermost and the other 20 movably mounted in the casing and, is always a cell'13 is disposed with its positive terminal 16 part of the electrical circuit. Y lowermost. The zinc cups of the'two cells 13, 14 e The invention also seeks a flashlight in which are insulated from one another and from thecas a cover for the lamp bulb serves to control the ing 10 in any convenient manner as will beunde'rcircuit. I stood by those skilled in the art. To complete The invention also has for an object a fiash the circuit between thecells 13,14, the bottom 12' light in which the battery for the vest pocket type is provided with conductive means leading beof flashlight is readily removable from and retween a terminal of one polarity of one cell to the 7 placeable in the casing. Y terminal of opposite polarity of the other cell. Still another object of the invention is the dis As shown, the cells 13, 14 restupon conductive 30- position of the batteries to simplify the circuit members 13, 19 which resiliently urge the cells and attain a reduction of parts. 13, 14 upwardly. Preferably these resilient con- .A further object of the invention is to provide ductive members take the form of coiled springs a flashlight which shall be practical from the 18, 19 removably mounted in metallic cups 20sestandpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture, cured to a metallic conductive member21 lying convenience and practicability in assembly and upon the insulatory bottom 12, the respective cups durability and attractiveness in use. i 20, conductive member 21' and 'bottom' 12 being These and other objects of the inventionand the united by rivets or eyelets 22 preferably spaced to means for their attainment will be more apparent holdthe springs in position to engage the respecfrom the following detailed description, taken in tive cells 13, 14. v I 40 connection with the accompanying drawing, illus- The upper end of the casing 10 is shown open trating one embodiment by which the invention and adapted to be closed by a readily removable may be realized, and in which:' closure 25-.28 or top cap' comprising an upper Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section showdisc 25' preferably of metal which rests upon the ing a flashlight according to this invention with upper edge thereofand extendsoutwardly slightthe parts in open circuit position. 1y beyond the periphery all around as at 26 to af Figure 2 is a view substantially similar to Figure ford convenient grasp with the fingers land a 1, but showing the parts in closedcircuit posidownwardly facing cup shaped guiding member tion. V 2'1, 28 fitting snugly within the casing 10 and 99 Figure; 3 is a view showing the top of the flashsecured to the bottom of the upper disc 25. The

light, looking from above on the line 33 of Figclosure 25 l serves as the support for the lamp ure 1. i s I socket 30 and the circuit closing devices. Also' 7 Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the lamp socket 30 and the circuit closing devices the line 4 4 of Figurefl, looking in the direction secure the topdiso25 and thebase 27 of the guid of the arrows and showing-the means for removing cup together. Obviously, the battery could ture and the other pair'33, 34, receiving a circuit closer. These apertures are preferably equally spaced from the transverse axis of the oval top disc 26 and are so disposed as to be coaxial 'or concentric with the respective battery cells 13, 14;

The lamp socket 30 is of the usual threaded; tubular shape and has a portion 36 near its upper end outwardly bent and reversely turned toform an intermediate flange 36 adaptedto engage the lower side of the closure 25, 27; i. e.', the upper,"

disc and the cup, the upper edge 37 of the socket being turned over the upper face. of the: closure.

as a flange 3'? to clamp the closure between itself and the turned over intermediate fiange36and secure the lamp socket SO-imthe holes The circuitclosing devices are disposed in-the other aperture 33, 3.4, in the closure. A-generally cylindrical conductive member or sleeve. 40;having aflange 41-v at-itsupper end-andofrthe same shape as the aperture is disposedwithin the aperture 33, 34.; As shown, the upper portion42. or. the cylinder isof increased transverse dimensionfor aidistance slightly greater-than the thickness of. the closure 25,,27, thereby affording material'which can. be upset or-punched outwardly in the formJof-E cars 43} at spaced points about the periphery belowthe closure toclamp the closure between the flange 41 and-the ears. 43011thecircuitcloser andihold thesame rigidly and permanentlyl, on the closure. When. not in-use, the lanipbulb 45 is protectediby, a.cover-47- conveniently stamped in cup-shape out of metal, and for-med with tin-extended portion or lever arm or-cam. member 48:by: whichv the-cover 47 -is. pivotally or'hin'gedly' mounted. onv the. case ing closure. For convenience, the cover'leverarm 4 8 is pivotally mounted on. a. pivot pin 49 extend,

ingbetweentwo upwardly, extending arms on ears 50, disposed, one on each-side of. thehole'inthe cylinder. and of-a.material; width sofas to serve as a bearing to' guide the cover. 47 from. open} to closedposition. Thiscover lever armABiunctions as: acircuit controlling-device by limiting theposL- tion ofa circuit completing plunger5L and is,.in effect, acamsurface. The cylinder. 40 is so.-called becauseit isprovidedrwithalbore 52 coaxiaLw-ith a. dry cell: 14 within which. bore 52. reciprocates thecircuitcompleting conductive plunger.5l.. The cross1sectio nal shape of the. bore 52. and. plunger 51 is;round..for convenience. in manufacture and operation but, obviously, aplunger andbore of, any, shape will serve the purpose. The. plunger 51 is. of. the transverse dimension. of. the. bore at, itsupper portion 531 and is. or alesser dimen.--

. sion at its lower end 51. The lower end 51. slides.

and isiguided within a non-conductive or insulatory bushing 55. threadedinto the lower end; of. the cylinder idanc], having a flanged portion 56. therebelow. This, bushing. 55- s ervesnot only as a.

, guiderfor the contactmaking plunger 51. but also as aninsulatory abutmentagainst which. the terminal.15.of the battery is pressed by. the bottom spring 19.. Iti-nsulates the cylinder e0 .andclosure 25, 27.f-rom the battery and, inadditiomprovides an abutment-forresilient meanashownasaspring 57, .whichrtends to urge the plunger. 51 upwardly away from the battery terminal 15. The plunger 51,111. its upward movement islimited by downwardlyfacingshoulders 58,.carriedrwith the cover 1; fulcrum,-i. e.,, the. pivotsupporting: arms 50.. To

provide these shoulders 58, the outer marginal sur faces of the arms 50 preferably define an upward 1y extending cylindrical or rod-like portion integral with the cylinder 40 which portion is slotted as at 59 to receive the cover lever arm 48, while the bore 52 of the cylinder is extended upwardly within the rod-like portion tora point slightly above'the upper limit of the plunger stroke as permitted by the cam end on the cover. The shoulders 58 prevent ejectment of the plunger 51' when the cover 4'7 is not in place.

Toretainthe closure 25, 28 on the casing 10, registering, apertures 60, 61 are provided in the casing 10 and closure guide 28, respectively, which apertures receive locking lugs 62 carried upon the ends 63 of a U-shaped spring 63, 64, disposed within the cup shapedguide 28 and secured in place,,sa-y,,gby the inherent resiliency of the spring 63, 64. It desired, of course, it may be secured by "spot welding; rivets or the like.

+17 is firstlturned. upwardly; about its fulcrumz49 to'the positionshowninliigure 2. and a lamp' ifz issc'rewed' into the s cket'BOQ, v hen the covert! is turned-down to,.enclose the lamp bulb, asshown To-assemble theflashlight for. use, the cover in Figurelland protect it... Io re n 1o.ve the closure ing, the slightlyprotruding edge 26ofithe top, disc .Thecells 13;,14.are' theninsertedsideby side, as shown in Figures '1 andi2', one, 'sa is, with the positive, terminal, 16. downwardly andone, say 14, with the. corresponding; terminal ;l5. upwardly= Eachecelrlii, 14 rests on. a bottomspring 18;, .19., respectively; The-closure guide ,28-is then inserted until'the lugs 62 snap into the casing apertures 60. At this, time bothcells 13;,14Qare pressedupwardly, one withits negative .terminaLsay, against. the. central terminalfof the lamp base and. the other cell with, say, itspositive terminal against the insulatory. bushing. 55. It vwilLbe noted. that the lowerend of .the contact plunger 5r. isurged upwardly by the plunger spring away fromrthev cellterminal. when. the. cover. isndown. over the lamp so-that" there isa. spacefid between the cell terminall5;and the.lower end of. the plunger and in this position, with the cov'er down,the'. plunger ispressedupwardly against the-bottomiace ,oiithe cover. lever arm. or. camsuriace by; the plunger spring 57 as shownnin. Figure landlthei circuit is openv r turned. upwardly about. the pivotal) to aposition substantially perpendicular with. respect. to the;

closure as shown in Figure-2Q 'Ihetendt'l ofthe.

closure lever: arm, in swinging downwardly in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewedin Figures Land.2 cams the contact plunger 51 downwardly to bring itslewr; end into. contactwith the. cell terminaLthus completing the circuitthroughthe. lamp 45 and illuminatingit. v I Itwvill be,recog=n izedthat;itheradial distance from the pivot axis 49 to the bottom 46 of. the cover arm 48 is lessthan theradial-distancefrom the pivot tot-he end- 6'7 of that arm. As'the cover isturnedto uncover the lamp,.it will-be apparent that the lower corner of the cover lever arm must pass-theplunger. While this is rounded. off as showrrat 68, itis nevertheless atv agreater. radiaL distance from the lever axis 49 than is the;end.

surface 67 and'hence in riding. over the lun er 51, it. forcesthe plunger-down further th an its normalcircuit closing position and so. doingdepresses the cell 14. This depression of'the cell, however, is permittedbythe contraction of the bottom spring 19, which, when the plunger 51 recedesin following the cam, to the position shown in Figure 2, causes the cell 14 to follow the plunger 51 andremain in contact therewith. I

The terms upper and lower used in the foregoing description are use in -a relative sense and are not to be deemed as limiting the disposition of the parts.

It will thus be seen that a flashlight hasbeen provided of the so called' vest-pocket type where'- in-.the battery is readily replaceable by the removal of a cap or closure of simple construction held to the casing by a simple and easily operable securingdevice. The component elements of the flashlight conform to standard practice and the lamp socketis always inthe' electrical circuit while 'the circuit is controlled by the covering and uncovering of the lamp. The lamp is readily insertedand removed from a standard'socket. Y

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configuration and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole, as well as in the selection and/orcombination of certain of the features independently of others and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawing except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a flashlight, in combination, a casing, cells therein, a lamp in electrical connection with a cell terminal, a sleeve carried with the casing, a plunger slidable in the sleeve, a lamp cover, means to move the cover to expose the lamp and thereby .engaging and depressing. the plunger, a

spring to retract the plunger, a non-conductive abutment for a cell, and means to urge the cell toward the plunger.

2. In a flashlight, in combination, a casing, cells therein, a lamp whereof a terminal is in electrical connection with the cell terminal, a sleeve, a plunger slidable in the sleeve, a lamp cover, and means to move the cover to expose the lamp and thereby depress the plunger into contact with a cell terminal of opposite polarity.

3. In a flashlight, in combination, a casing, cells therein, a removable closure, a lamp socket carried with the closure and in electrical connection therewith, a lamp in the socket whereof a terminal is in contact with a cell terminal, a conductive sleeve in electrical connection with the closure, a plunger slidable in the sleeve, a lamp cover movable on the closure and having a portion to engage and depress the plunger, a spring to retract the plunger, a non-conductive abutment for a cell and means to urge a cell toward the plunger.

4. In a flashlight, in combination, a casing, cells therein, a removable closure, a lamp socket carried with the closure and in electrical connection therewith, a lamp in the socket whereof a terminal is in contact with a cell terminal, a conductive sleeve in electrical connection with the closure, a plunger slidable in the sleeve, a lamp cover, a fulcrum therefor, meanscarried by the cover to engage and depress the plunger, a spring to retract the plunger, a non-conductive abutment for a cell and means to urge a cell toward the plunger.

5. In a flashlight, in combination, a tubular casing, cells therein, a removable closure for the a lamp socke-t'fixed. in the closure and inelectrical connection'therewith, a lamp in the socket whereof the central-terminal is in contact witha cell'terminal, a conductive sle'eve' fixed in the closure and in electrical connection therewith,

a plunger slidable in the sleeve, a lamp cover, a fulcrum therefor, a cam carried by the cover to engage and depress the plunger into contact with a terminal of opposite polarity of another cell, a spring to retract the plunger, a non-conductive abutment for the latter cell and electrically connected means to urge the cells toward the closure.

. 6.-In a flashlight, in combination, a. tubular casing, an insulatory bottom supported therein, cells therein side by Side, one cell inverted in re spect of the other, a removable'closure, a lamp socket fixed in the closure and in electrical conniection therewith, alamp in the socket whereof the central terminal is in contact with a terminal of one cell, a conductive sleeve carried by and in electrical connection with the closure, a plunger contact therewith to engage the cells, respectively,

and urge them toward the closure.

7. In a flashlight, in combination, a tubular casing formed with a pair of oppositely disposed apertures, a removable closure for the casing having a cup shaped portion telescoping within the casing, said cup shaped portion being formed with apertures to register with the first named apertures, a U-shaped spring secured within the cup shaped portion with its free ends over the apertures and lugs carried by said free ends, respectively, and adapted to enter the registering apertures.

8. In a portable self contained flash lamp of the type having a lamp carried by the end thereof and a lid'normally covering said lamp and operableto its open position to operate said lamp, the combination of a housing, one or moreelectric cells disposed within said housing and a structurally unitary closure element for said casing comprising a plate closing the end of said casing, a stationary lamp receiving socket and a movable switch element extending below the inner face of said plate and interiorly of said casing, and means operable by said lid for the direct operation of "said switch element to move the same to its closed position when the lid is moved to the open position, and a spring for moving the switch element to its open position when the lid is moved to its closed position, said spring also cooperating with said lid to hold the same in its open position.

9. In a portable self contained flash lamp of the type having a lamp carried by the end thereof and a lid normally covering said lamp and operable to its open position to operate said lamp, the

combination of a housing, one or more electric ment and resilient device being so arranged and constructed: that the'switch element; is moved. to closed position a ainst the; action oi. said -de: vice whensthe lid is movedto: itsopen-position. and ismovedito its open position by saidspring' when the. lid: is moved 'to its closed position, said' resilient device, cooperating with said switch element to retain said lid in its open or closed position.

v1,0. In.;a portable self: contained flash: lamp of the; type having a lamp carriedby the end thereof, and; a;-lidnormally covering said lamp. and. operable to its; open-position to operate said lamp, the combination of a housing, one or, more electric cells; disposed within, said housingi and a closure element consisting of; a unitary assembly and comprising a plate closing, the end; of saidcasing, a lid{ disposed on the outer face of said plate, a lamp receiving socket,- a switch element associated; with said lid in relatively movable relation therewith, and aresilient device cooperating with said, switch; element and lid', said lid, switch element and resilient device being so. arranged and constructed that the switch element is moved to its closed position against the action of said resil.-

ient device Whenthe lid ismovedto. its-open position and: is moved -toits open positionby said raoa mr spring-:whenthelid is moved to; itsicloseipositiomsaid resilientdevice cooperatingfwith saids. switch element. to; retain saidalid; in. its: open or closed position, said socket; switch element and: resilient device; being-"disposed; mainly belowsaid platei and extending downwardly therefrom and; interiorly of, said housing, V V

V 11.. In; a; portable: self contained flash. lampof thertypehaving-a lamp carried'by the end' thereof and a lid normally coveringisaid lamp and open-.- able; to itsmperr position to operate said lamp,.the combination 0E a'housing one. or. more electric cells; disposedl within said housing and a structurally unitary closure element for sai'clcasing. comprising a plate,- closinglthe end of said casing"; a lamp; receiving socket, carried :by said plate,v a switch; element, associated with said; lid; in: rela tively' movable; relatiom therewith, and. a. helical compression spring for moving. the switch: ele-,- ment toz'its open; position when. the: lid is: movedzto its; closed position; said spring also cooperating with said lid to hold the same in its openxpositi'rm'.

GEORGE H. BARBER.

ooonmen Bi PRA'IIIlJ 

